Chapter 71: Fourteen

Even though Ye Can was already an adult, in Lin Zixi’s eyes, she was still just a half-grown kid. After hearing Yu Ming agree so readily, Lin Zixi took a deep breath and argued with him, “I think we can’t shoot it. The emotions are all in the drama already—this kiss scene feels too forced.”

Yu Ming wasn’t happy to be contradicted. “Teacher Lin, that’s true and all, but adding a kiss scene gives the plot more tension, right?”

It was a tragedy, after all. The love in it needed something pure and beautiful to lure audiences back time and again. Only then could they grit their teeth through to the end after tasting that knife-sharp sugar.

The destructiveness of tragedy and the beauty of love didn’t clash at all.

To convince Lin Zixi, Yu Ming chattered on for a few minutes about Shakespeare, explaining the tragic beauty of Romanticism to her.

But the core of his speech boiled down to one thing: We’ve tortured them long enough—time to drop some sugar, give the fans and me a little treat!

Without these passionate scenes, the CP shippers and editors would just make their own fan-edited fantasies elsewhere. Better to serve up the sugar in-house!

Yu Ming pleaded earnestly, but Lin Zixi remained as unyielding as an iceberg.

Ye Can, standing beside her, watched the debate unfold and found it all very strange. She interrupted Lin Zixi’s endless protests. “Lin Zixi, I don’t mind. Why do you mind?”

“Besides, I’m not a kid anymore. It’s just a kiss—acting, nothing big.”

Lin Zixi turned to her with a headache. Ye Can looked perfectly innocent, blinking at her. “Don’t tell me… you think there’s something wrong with me kissing you?”

Lin Zixi sighed. “Ye Can…”

Seeing Ye Can join in, Yu Ming grinned and piled on. “See, Teacher Lin? Ye Can’s cool with it. Just let go a bit.”

“It’s only a kiss scene. Nothing your professionalism can’t handle perfectly.”

Ye Can chimed in, “Yeah, just a kiss scene.” Then she gave Lin Zixi a weird look. “You’re refusing to kiss me… don’t tell me you’ve fallen for me?”

Lin Zixi nearly choked on her words. She glared at Ye Can. “Kissing you? That’d be mother-son incest!”

Ye Can muttered under her breath, “Not like that’s off-limits. It’s not a big deal anyway.”

Yu Ming beside them laughed until his eyes crinkled. “Aw, such deep mother-son affection! Come on, Teacher Lin, give us a scene.”

Lin Zixi saw the thick “sugar-dropping” desire in Yu Ming’s eyes and knew her lone voice couldn’t fight the director team’s demands. With Ye Can goading her relentlessly, she finally stamped her foot in exasperation and agreed to the absurdity. “Fine! Proxy shot it is!”

Yu Ming sighed in regret but figured a proxy was better than nothing, so he reluctantly approved.

Soon, the set was reset. Ye Can sat regally on the throne in her pristine coronation robes, cradling the Beauty in her arms as she coldly overlooked the scene below.

After the king had slain several high-ranking ministers with her sword right there in the hall for the Beauty, the Beauty began to prove her worth.

The person manipulating her from the shadows—using her mother’s life and her sister’s future as leverage—issued demands.

They wanted her to use the king’s hand to eliminate every faction opposing them in court and seize things from the king that didn’t belong to them.

But the king was a madwoman. Madwomen acted without logic or reason. The Beauty couldn’t guarantee the king would heed her hints and direct her blade at every specified target.

So the Beauty ran a test.

A noble rampaging on horseback through the Royal Capital became her guinea pig.

In the grand hall, upon hearing the Censorate Minister accuse the noble, the Beauty said offhandedly, “Princes break the law and share the people’s guilt. Street murder demands a life in return.”

It was her first time speaking in court. The king turned at the sound of her voice, gazing at her with an intensely peculiar look.

As the king’s eyes fell on her, the Beauty lowered her gaze and said no more.

The king stared at her serene face, as if the speaker hadn’t been her at all. After a moment’s silence, she turned to the ministers, idly stroking her pale fingers. “Kill him then.”

“Drawn and quartered.”

As the king’s tender lips uttered those merciless words, guards waiting outside entered and coldly dragged the condemned noble toward the hall’s doors.

The noble collapsed in terror, begging for mercy. But the ruthless king didn’t spare her a glance, merely drawling boredly, “Court dismissed. I’m tired.”

More of the same dull nonsense. Not fun at all.

So the king thought, lifting her eyes to the Beauty seated beside her. The Beauty’s face was composed, but her clenched hands on her lap and the worry in her eyes betrayed her panic.

Watching her like a startled little bird suddenly sparked the king’s interest.

Once the ministers dispersed, the king reached out, slowly hooking the Beauty’s chin and drawing her close for inspection.

Their breaths mingled. The Beauty stared at the king’s face inches away, inexplicably tense. “Your Majesty…”

The king stared brazenly, a hint of mockery in her eyes. “You’ve got guts. I gave you a sword, but you swung my blade instead.”

She leaned in, nearly pressing their faces together, and whispered, “Tell me—why did you want him dead?”

The Mad King on her throne had piercingly clear eyes. Controlled as she was, the Beauty couldn’t afford a misstep. Swallowing her fear under that intimidating gaze, she replied, “I… dislike him. He treats lives like weeds.”

The Mad King sneered coldly, releasing her chin. “Boring answer.”

As her presence withdrew, the Beauty exhaled in relief, like escaping a predator’s glare.

But then the Mad King said, “You’re interesting, though.”

In a flash, the Mad King spun, pinning the Beauty to the throne with lightning speed.

Like a beast seizing fresh prey, she pounced eagerly, ravaging the Beauty’s lips.

The sudden intimacy startled the Beauty. She reflexively slapped at the Mad King’s slender shoulders.

On the narrow throne, the Beauty struggled beneath the king as her clothes were gradually stripped away. Servants behind the screen averted their eyes, stepping forward to lift it and block the view of the pair’s throne-room debauchery.

Faint sounds leaked through the screen, filling the vast hall with chaotic moans.

This scene was tough for Lin Zixi. Pinned under Ye Can, she was enveloped in her scent, clothes tugged open, struggling to breathe.

Ye Can hid it well—the actions were intense, but they never actually touched.

After several takes, Yu Ming outside yelled “Cut!” in frustration.

Slapping the script, he fumed, “Stop, stop! Ye Can, this is supposed to be lust, not a rabid dog pouncing! Make it passionate desire!”

“More delicate, slower—better for the camera.”

He turned to Lin Zixi, fixing her clothes. “Touch up Teacher Lin’s makeup. Next take, cooperate more—no phoning it in.”

After the scolding, Yu Ming pulled Ye Can aside and sighed. “If it doesn’t work, just kiss her. You’re both girls—you peck each other all the time. One real kiss won’t hurt.”

Ye Can stared at him in disbelief. “Girls can do plenty. And you want me to disrespect Lin Zixi? If she doesn’t like it, no way.”

Yu Ming sighed deeply. “I want you to disrespect her! You’re hiding too much—you need to invade her space!”

“Right now, lust trumps respect and love!”

Ye Can arched a brow. Fair point, she thought. When you’re young and horny, you seize what you crave.

She got it, nodding thoughtfully. “Alright, I’ll gauge Lin Zixi’s reactions.”

Otherwise, with her responses, who knew how many takes it’d take.

Once Lin Zixi’s makeup was fixed, Yu Ming eyed Ye Can and her on camera and called “Action!”

Same scene: Ye Can gripped Lin Zixi’s chin, scrutinizing her before the interrogation.

Her answer bored Ye Can, but as she turned, she caught the faint, alluring fragrance beside her. Desire surged.

Ye Can whirled back, seizing Lin Zixi’s chin and pressing a firm kiss to her soft lips.

As wet heat branded her mouth, Lin Zixi recoiled in shock, trying to push her away. Ye Can sensed it, forcing her down onto the throne, claiming her lips to swallow every cry.

Old memories replayed. Beneath Ye Can’s wide sleeves, she devoured Lin Zixi’s mouth with brutal, possessive kisses.

Lin Zixi, never so violated, went limp at the waist. She clutched Ye Can’s back, breath stolen in the suffocating kiss.

After the deep kiss, Ye Can nipped her chin, trailing bites to her earlobe.

Under everyone’s gaze, Lin Zixi couldn’t falter. She played along until Yu Ming called “Cut!” Only then did she wipe the wetness from her face, hiding her turmoil.

Done, Lin Zixi shoved Ye Can off and sat coldly on the throne, glaring.

The soft body vanished from her arms. Ye Can faced Lin Zixi’s fury and felt an odd embarrassment.

She licked her lips. “I… I was just… trying my best.”

It’s been so long since I tasted her, Ye Can thought. No wonder I lost control.

Lin Zixi burned with rage and humiliation at that face. She said nothing, avoiding all off-camera talk with Ye Can for the rest of the day’s shoots.

That night back at the hotel, Ye Can was booted to the forcibly vacated room next door by Lin Zixi.

Only then did Ye Can realize her “invasion” had truly pissed her off.